Oligopeptidase B deficient mutants of Leishmania major

Munday, J. C. , McLuskey, K., Brown, E., Coombs, G. H. and Mottram, J. C. (2011) Oligopeptidase B deficient mutants of Leishmania major. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 175(1), pp. 49-57. (doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2010.09.003)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molbiopara.2010.09.003

Abstract

Oligopeptidase B is a clan SC, family S9 serine peptidase found in gram positive bacteria, plants and trypanosomatids. Evidence suggests it is a virulence factor and thus therapeutic target in both Trypanosoma cruzi and T. brucei, but little is known about its function in Leishmania. In this study L. major OPB-deficient mutants ([Delta]opb) were created. These grew normally as promastigotes, had a small deficiency in their ability to undergo differentiation to metacyclic promastigotes, were significantly less able to infect and survive within macrophages in vitro, but were virulent to mice. These data suggest that L. major OPB itself is not an important virulence factor, indicating functional differences between trypanosomes and Leishmania in their interaction with the mammalian host. The possibility that an OPB-like enzyme (designated OPB2) in L. major might compensate for the loss of OPB in [Delta]opb was investigated via by mapping its sequence onto the 1.6

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Munday, Dr Jane and Coombs, Professor Graham and McLuskey, Dr Karen and Brown, Miss Elaine and Mottram, Professor Jeremy
Authors: Munday, J. C., McLuskey, K., Brown, E., Coombs, G. H., and Mottram, J. C.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Publisher:Elsevier BV
ISSN:0166-6851
ISSN (Online):1872-9428
Published Online:29 September 2010
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
454141Analysing the roles of petidases in Leishmania infectivity and pathogenicityJeremy MottramMedical Research Council (MRC)G0700127Infection Immunity and Inflammation Life Sciences